Definately not an ordinary April morning

when red lights and sirens and their noise

wake up our household.

"Whats going on?" sleepy children call

"There is an emergency, somebody needs help" Mommy says.

We stare out the windows as the haze of smoke builds in the field below

and the smell of soot and smoke contaminates the fresh April air.

With a tear in her eye she realizes this disaster has struck really close to home.

When Mommy's extra child for the day is dropped off, then she hears the update,

"the road is closed,"" detour,"" still burning"and "its so an so's house".

After several phone calls to hubby and the school bus company

she is reassured when she hears "we will be rerouting some routes, your son will be picked up"

With coffee cup in hand she takes all the children outside to the end of the driveway

and waits.......................

Several minutes beyond the usual time the yellow and black vehicle arrives.

Wrong route #??? wrong direction??

After a short conversation with the driver the son is picked up

Mommy watches it disappear into the distance

and wipes the tear out of her eye.


So today as I feel the sun shine and hear the birds sing,

I am burdened for a family,( I don't even know)

who have suffered the loss of their home

on this beautiful April morning.